There was a time when learning to fish wasn’t something we Googled. It wasn’t something we clicked, swiped or double-tapped. It was something we earned — slowly — standing shoulder-to-shoulder with someone willing to show us the ropes. It was early mornings, quiet watching, hand-me-down wisdom whispered between bites of a sausage roll at the boat ramp.
But somewhere along the way, things shifted.
Even with all the “Matrix-style” plug-ins in the world, you can’t beat “ye olde world” hand-me-down insights from family. Here, Starlo teaches simple rigs to his daughter, Amy.
Today, we’re drowning in options. One quick search and up pop a dozen YouTube videos showing the same knot, each claiming it’s the easiest. Social feeds serve up bite-sized tips daily. Forums, blogs, podcasts, livestreams — it’s all at our fingertips. And yet, as any seasoned fisher knows, having access to information isn’t the same as knowing how to apply it.
Here’s what fascinates me: the digital age hasn’t just flooded us with fishing knowledge — it’s transformed how we learn altogether.
We used to learn in a straight line: mentor to mentee, step by step. Now? We dip in and out, cherry-picking, cross-referencing. Some of us thrive watching videos. Others prefer diagrams. Some soak up podcasts in the car; others (like me) need hands-on practice to make it stick.
And this isn’t just a hunch — science backs it up.
You’ll always find someone “skipping class”. Straight-line, lecture-style learning isn’t for everyone — even in fishing clinics!
Research into adult learning shows we don’t all absorb knowledge the same way. Some of us are visual learners. Some kinesthetic. Some need to see it; others need to do it. Some love a deep dive article; others prefer a quick demo vid. Our tech era hasn’t just uncovered these differences — it’s amplified them. Even polarised them.
What inspires one learner overwhelms another. A visual learner might binge Starlo Gets Reel videos online and feel like a pro overnight. A verbal learner might prefer to settle in with his written articles at their own pace. A hands-on learner might feel stalled by screens until they’ve got a rod in hand.
And that’s why I reckon Steve’s new course platform gets it right. It doesn’t pick one format — it blends. Video presentations, live demos, written articles, photos — it’s a smorgasbord that lets every learner fill their plate, their way. No two fishers will learn alike, and they shouldn’t have to.
But the real magic? That still happens beyond the screen.
The Women’s Rec’ Fishing League has been investing heavily in creating an educational eco-system that is truly unrivalled in Australia.
The Women’s Recreational Fishing League, for example, hasn’t just been asking what women need to learn to feel confident fishing — but how they best learn it. Their answer has unfolded over time through a suite of initiatives: from social media communities, private chat forums and Virtual League Nights, to on-water adventures like LiveXP trips, Residential Enclaves, XFactor woMENTORnaments, Project 5050, and Team WRFL opportunities. Sitting across both worlds is the Rec’ Fishing Fundamentals & Vocational Development (RFFVD) course — a hybrid hub that connects theory to practice.
And the latest innovation? It promises to stitch these threads together; to close the loop: CrewPods.
CrewPods aren’t a replacement for any of these other inspired initiatives — they’re the missing paver in the League’s “Fast Track”. The bit that brings all those aspirational layers back down to earth; the social glue that anchors the vision around a local workbench, where we can gather, share, dissect and build confidence together. They couldn’t have happened earlier. CrewPods only make sense now — with all those big, bold programs humming in the background, lifting women’s aspirations higher than ever. Now’s the time to create something that gently grounds it all. A friendly, accessible gateway that meets women exactly where they are.
Picture it: a small, welcoming circle where you tie your first knot, cast your first line, and ask those “silly” questions (spoiler: they’re never silly) without judgement. It’s where theory meets practice.
CrewPod meet-ups are run by a “Siren” (WRFL supported leader) who selects and directs skills sessions and fishing get-togethers, providing a safe and relaxed learning space whilst building fishing-friendship networks.
Where last night’s webinar tip gets trialled on the jetty today. Where learning’s not a lecture — it’s a yarn, a cuppa, a round of laughs and a shared picnic.
Keep your eyes peeled for WRFL Sirens as they begin to pop up across the socials. This logo signifies a woman who has stepped up to provide a safe space for others to step in to our sport.
And if you’re reading this thinking, “I wish there was a Pod near me,” maybe that’s you hearing the Siren’s Call. The League’s seeking passionate female fishers to step forward as Sirens — the volunteer leaders who bring CrewPods to life in their regions. You don’t need to be an expert. You just need to be willing to gather, guide and create a space where learning feels safe, fun and possible.
As a soliary/kinesthetic learner, I’m looking forward to hitting the water for my next lesson. I hope to see you out there some day!
Until next time, FISH ON!
For three decades Jo has worked with businesses and personalities, helping them to promote themselves in one form or another, whether through graphic design, advertising, promotions or marketing.
She has owned a fishing rod for just as long, but it’s only been in this new century that it hasn’t been allowed to gather dust.
Jo is a passionate advocate for the sport of fishing and its promotion as a healthy lifestyle for women.
To find out more about Jo visit her website HERE
Or you can visit her Fishtopia Web site HERE or on the banner below.
Jo is also the founder and National President of the Women’s Recreational Fishing League (WRFL) Inc. The work they do is very important in balancing the participation ratios of fishing in Australia, thus making the collective voices of Aussie anglers more harmonious and powerful, as well as shoring up the economy of the sector. For more information visit their Website at womensrecfishingleague.org
